Rail-joint.



No. 831,836. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906. T. CRANE & J. M. WHEELER. RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 8, 1906,

/N VEN TOHS ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rrHOMAS ORANE, OE EAST RRANOH, AND JAMES M. WHEELER, OE EISHS EDDY. NEW YORK.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed March 8, 1906. Serial No. 304,849.

To LM whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, THOMAS CRANE, of East Branch, and JAMES M. VHEELER, of Fishs Eddy, in the county of Delaware, State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and Improved Rail- Joint, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to rail-joints.

The object of the invention is to produce a rail-joint of simple construction which may be quickly applied and which will operate to hold the abutting ends of the rails securely Without necessitating the employment of bolts and nuts.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is avertical section taken through the ends of the sleepers beyond the rail and showing the rail-joint generally in elevation. Certain parts are, however, broken away and shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a plan of the rail-joint shown in Fig. 1, the sleepers being broken away. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one extremity of a fishplate which constitutes a feature of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the ties or sleepers upon which the abutting extremities of the rails 2 and 3 are laid. The rail-joint 4, when constructed according to our invention, comprises a chair 5, the form of which is very clearly shown in Fig. 3. This chair comprises a base-plate 6, which is adapted to rest upon the upper faces of the ties, being of substantially rectangular form and extending longitudinally with the rails, as indicated. At one edge, preferably the inner edge, which is disposed toward the center of the track, the baseplate 6 is formed with an upwardly-projecting flange 7, which is undercut to form a l longitudinal groove S, adapted toreceive the edge of the rail-fiange 9, as indicated. The upper extremity of this flange 7 rests against shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

On the upper face of the base-plate 6, at a suitable distance Vfrom the rails 2 and 3, we provide a plurality of longitud inally-disposed ribs 11, which are slightly inclined toward the axis of the rails, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner faces 12 of these ribs are slightly undercut, so that they form rudimentary grooves, for a purpose which will appear more fully hereinafter. The Vflanges 9 of the rails 2 and 3 on the Outer edges thereof, which are disposed toward the ribs 11, are provided with notches 13, and recesses 14 are formed in the upper face of the base-plate 6, which notches are adapted to register with the notches 13 when the chair 5 is applied tO the abutting ends of the rails, as indicated.

Ve provide a fish-plate 15, the form of which is most clearly shown in Fig. 3. This 'fish-plate has a substantially triangular body 16, the lower face 17 whereof is inclined, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and rests upon the up per face of the rail-flange 9. At the upper edge of this triangular body 16 a head 18 is formed, the upper extremity whereof abuts against the under side of the rail-head 10, op-

posite the flange v7, as indicated. This head v 1S projects outwardly beyond. the Outer face of the fish-plate 16, so that an inclined,l shoulder 19 is presented, extending longitudinally throughout the entire length of the fish-plate. The purpose of this shoulder will be described more fully hereinafter. Between the projecting shoulder 19 and the outer face 20 of the fish-plate 16 an angle or groove 21 is formed.

Ve provide a wedge-plate which has va substantially rectangular body, as indicated in Fig. 1, its lower edge being provided with a beveled or inclined face 23. On this beveled edge 23 at Suitable points laterally-projecting fins 24 are formed, which present inclined edges 25 and abrupt rear edges or shoulders 26. The beveled faces 23 are adapted to engage with the inner faces 12 of the ribs 11, so as to jam the wedge-plate 22 in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. The body ofthe wedgeplate is formed with an upper beveled edge 27, which engages the aforesaid shoulder 19. The length of the fins 24 is about the same as the distance between the adjacent members of the ribs 11. From this arrangement the the under side of the head 10 of the rails, as i IOO wedge-plate may be forced in from an initial position with the two more advanced fins 24 ying in the space between the ribs and the beveled edge 27 then being in engagement with the aforesaid shoulder 19, the butt 28 of the wedge-plate being struck by a sledge or maul, so as to advance the wedge-plate toward the right. In doing so the fins 24 jamagainst the ribs, as Will be readily understood, wedging themselves between the ribs and the head 18 of the fish-plate.

Referring especially to Fig. 3, we provide the fish-plate 15 with openings 29, which register with the aforesaid notches 13 andrecesses 14, so that when the fish-plate is set in position, as indicated, the chair is securely locked against longitudinal movement upon the vrails by means of keys 29, which are dropped into the openings, as shown.

We provide an arrangement for preventing the accidental withdrawal of the wedge-plate when the same has been driven home in the manner described. For this purpose at the extremity of the fish-plate toward which the .wedge-plate is driven the inclined side face of the fish-plate is provided with a laterallyprojecting lug 30, of substantially rectangular form, and just beyond this lug 30 a second lug 31 is formed', which is of substantially triangular form, having its point 32 disposed toward the lug 30. The upper face of the A lug 30 is slightly depressed below the upper face of the lug 31. The forward extremity of the body of the wedge-plate is split, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2, so as to form a longitudinally-disposed tongue 34, which. projects in the ,direction in which ythe wedge-plate is driven. As the wedge-plate advances the extremity of this tongue strikes against the inclined face 35 of thelug 31 and is' bent downwardly against the edge of the lug 30, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. I n other words, this tongue 34 is clenched around the lug 30, so as to eifectually prevent the accidental withdrawal of the -wedge-plate. In

faddition to this we provide other means for preventing accidental withdrawal of' the wedge-plate consisting of a turnbuckle'36, arranged as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This turnbuckle is disposed in one of the spaces between two adjacent members of the ribs 11. The rear extremity of the turnbuckle rests against the forward edge of the rearmost rib, while the forward extremity of the turnbuckle rests against the adjacent shoulder 26. The turnbuckle is of common construction, having oppositely-threaded Shanks 37, rigidly attached to a head 38. This head 38 1s provided with openings 39 for a removable pin 40. By means of the pin the turnbuckle may be rotated so as to jam itself in position. After the turnbuckle is tightened up the head 38 is rotated so 'as to bring the pin 40 into a vertical position, whereupon the lower extremity of the pin is allowed to de- The base-plate 6 is adapted to be attached 7o to the sleepers or ties 1 by means of suitable spikes 42, which may be driven at the points indicated.

l In the practical construction of the railjoint the lugs 30 and 31 will not be integral, 75

but will be separate pieces set into position, so that in case they are broken they can be replaced.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent- 1. In a rail-joint, in combination, a chair Apresenting a base-plate having a plurality of ribs inclined at an angle with respect to the longituidnal axis of said chair, a fish-plate.

having a recess and adapted to engage the sides of the abutting rails, and a wedge-plate engaging with said recess and having a plurality of laterally-projecting fins presenting inclined faces engaging said inclined ribs.

2. In a rail-joint, in combination, a chair comprising a base-plate, a fish-plate adapted to engage the sides of the abutting rails, a wedge-plate adapted to be driven longitudi- 'nally of the rails and amming between said 95 fish-plate and said base-plate, a tongue formed on said wedge-plate and a projection on said fish-plate adapted to engage said tongue and bend the same laterally, said tongue when bent affording means for pre- IOO venting the withdrawal of said wedge-plate.

3. In a rail-joint, in combination, a chair comprising a base-plate, a fish-plate engaging the sides of the abutting rails, a wedgeplate adapted to be wedged between said base-plate and said fish-plate and having a tongue formed thereon, said fish-plate having lugs disposed in the path of said wedge-` plate when beingv driven home, said lugs affording means for bending said tongue later- I IO engaging the sides of the abutting rails, a

wedge-plate having laterally-projecting fins engaging said ribs and presenting shoulders at the rear extremities thereof, said wedgeplate engaging said fish-plate at the upper edge thereof, and an extensible member en- I2C gaging one Of said shoulders and one of said ribs, and affording means for locking said wedge-plate against withdrawal.

5. In a rail-joint, in combination, abutting rails each having a notch at the extremity thereof, a chair receiving said rails and having a base-plate therebeneath with recesses registering with said notches, a fish-plate having keys projecting therefrom and engaging said notches and said recesses, and a 13o Wedge-plate engaging said base-plate and said fish-plate.

6. In a rail-joint, in combination, a chair comprising a base-plate and a flange, said base-plate having inclined ribs on the upper side thereof and recesses in the upper face thereof, rails engaging said flange, resting upon said base-plate and having notches in the flanges thereof alining with said recesses, a fish-plate engaging the sides of said rails opposite said first lange, keys engaging said recesses and notches, said fish-plate having a longitudinal groove in the outer face thereof, and a Wedge-plate engaging said groove at its upper edge and said ribs at its lower edge.

7. In a rail-joint, in combination, a fishplate adapted to engage the sides of the abutting rails and having an outwardly-projecting lug at one extremity thereof and a second lug beyond said first lug, presenting an inclined face, a chair receiving said rails and comprising a base-plate, and a Wedge-plate engaging said base-plate and said {ish-plate to jam said 'fish-plate against the rails, said Wedge-plate being adapted to seat by a movement longitudinally of said rails and having a tongue adapted to engage said inclined face, said inclined face ailording means for bending said tongue laterally around said first lug.

.In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS CRANE. JAMES M. VHEELER. Vitnesses:

JosEPi-i B. DENIO, WILLIAM WALLACE BAXTER. 

